MECHANIZATION- KENOSIS AS REVIEWED BY SHARK ATTACK GOLF

Out of a cold, dark mist, a metal ship emerges. The sounds of aggression rise and attack your eardrums. Shark Attack Golf knows edgy and metal and we’ve been called the mosh pit of Golf. We recently received a copy of the newest release by Mechanization. These tracts are powerful and each has a unique drive. The opening blast comes in an effort called Approaching the Spectre’s Emblem and you feel that a battle is about to erupt in a land of Vikings. Mechanization does have a mechanical or industrial base in its music, especially the drum side but unlike some robotic sounding bands, the sound simply comes across as tight and clean with the real darkness being produced by the guitar and vocals. The band has many influences and the sound is symbolic of a clash between Amon Amarth and Cannibal Corpse but with more melodic vocals. The work put into this project is obvious and the usual slacking of some tracts is pleasantly absent. The flow of music is hard, full of energy and a natural progression. I also like the directional changes that the band makes from song to song and often within the song. Overall, a great mix of heavy and melodic without being boxed into a mold that so often haunts the metal genre. I felt a connection with several tracts and I would not hesitate to release them in any chosen order. This album is well worth the purchase and Shark Attack Golf rates it an 8 out of 10 shark teeth scale. Hopefully, you will hear much more from Mechanization as their music may be featured in some of our future video creations.

Shark Attack Golf – 06-16-2011

The Rusty Spoon Club

The Rusty Spoon Club

Unlike most golfers with lower handicaps, I was not born with a silver spoon in my house, let alone in my mouth. I am fairly new to the game of golf, only playing consistently for the past 10 years or so and I am in my 40’s. I love this game and yet there are many problems in it. It remains a very expensive game and is still an exclusive club to join. I recently heard an announcer for a major network say that most golfers on tour were from humble beginnings. I would have to cry foul on that statement. In my opinion, you simply can’t achieve greatness in golf without lots of advantages. The advantages include a family with monetary means to either be a member of a private course or to live on a course and have easy and constant access to the range and the course. A kid playing seldom with a parent as money or time permits can never compete with a kid hitting balls on a daily basis. Many courses continue to have an elite attitude and the young are not typically welcomed or encouraged to play. The attitude also extends to players who might not look the part. I have been asked to tuck my shirt in on more than one occasion even though it had a collar. I’m not a backwoods redneck who wants to show up in a torn t-shirt or blue jeans but we have to stop the high brow rich club mentality or there will be no future to look forward to.
Another giant sticking point, in my opinion, is that the face of golf is very white and male. Tune into any broadcast and the announcers will be almost exclusively male and almost 100% white. I’m sorry but you just can’t tell me that there are no African American, Asian or Hispanic announcers who are qualified to call this great game. We don’t need written criteria on the matter but until the game can reflect a more balanced pulpit, it can never start to shake the racist image that it holds. We also need to keep politics out of the game. Look, we get it, most of the powers in golf are conservative and wealthy but we don’t need further proof being presented in the form of on air political opinion. I’m not a conservative person but I also don’t want a Liberal bias being pushed in golf by the personalities. Sports and Church should be political free zones and that’s all I’m going to say.
The Golf Channel, the PGA and others are always asking how we can grow the game. I have some ideas and along with some friends, we are working hard to make the game better and fun again. The clothing is one place to start. We should encourage a wide range of expression in the attire worn. Watching a bunch if clones in matching or similar outfits is boring and yet, when someone on tour shows up with a non-traditional pair of shoes, a flat brim hat or some aggressive colors or images on their shirt, the announcers are quick to judge and make fun of it. Also, if a player dares to have hair that creeps out from under their hat, the old boy club acts as if the game has been invaded by hippies. I also believe that amateurs should be encouraged to play tee boxes that are in line with their skill level. What sense does it make for us to watch the pros be able to drive some greens on par 4’s and go for most par 5’s in two but then we go to the course and play the back tee boxes and never have a chance to drive a green or reach a par 5 with a chance for an eagle? We have chosen to alter some rules for fun. We call our system Shark Attack Rules. We have a designated hole called DOH…Driver Only Hole. This hole is typically a par 4 and the golfer must use driver only from tee to green and even putting. Another rule is that on one par 5, we allow the golfer to tee up their second shot. Imagine grinding on a par 4, setting up to put from 20 feet for a 6 when you’re playing partners yells par or 8. If you make the putt, you get a par but if you miss, it’s an 8. I’ve played in money matches and I’ve played in National tournaments under PGA rules and I am just tired of the old, boring golf standards that we live under. It seems that the better a golfer is, the less fun they are to play with. If you are bored with the old game, are an aggressive golfer or just want to help us make the game more fun and accessible to everyone, feel free to join our effort at Shark Attack Golf. We have a facebook page, a YouTube Channel and a blog and a website will follow soon.






Matthew Ellenburg / Shark Attack Golf 06/15/2011